New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1917, Page 15

LESTER PIANOS We have a wonderful stock of Victrolas, and can assure the very best of service. :All . prices from $20.00 to $250.00. Ready fo - FOR CHRISTMAS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE HOME WITH MUSIC nnmedlate delivery. AMERICAN NEGROES WIN FRENCH HEARTS - Dance and Sing Way. Into Allc- tions of New Friends Though they bewafl the lack of chickens in the backyards - of the French—and on their menu—the members of a regiment of ‘American negro stevedores in France have danced and sung their wayinto the hearts of the French population in the port where they are already planning a show for‘the benefit of a fund for the French wounded. Telling of their work and play and thoughts, Howard Kahn, in an article sent to the National War Work Coun- cll of the Y. M. C. A, speaks of them as the “War's Minstrel Show.” In spite of their strange surroundings, he says, theéy carry on their work as usual. They shuffle the same dances, and sing the same plantation mexodxes) as at home. They have no use for the! Senegu-i lese—“French niggers” they ‘call! them—because they wear monkey. caps, have rings in their ears and' “don’t talk sense.” The native wlt and constant good humor of these' stevedores have made them a joy and |, delight to the officers and men who come in contact with them. Mote | traditions of the American negro. over, they are living up to the best Writing from a port in France, Mr. Kahn says: “It's against the rules to mentmn‘ names when you write about enlisted | men of the American Expedltlonary| Forces, but even the hardest-hearted | censor will admit that no military se- | cret is divulged in._this interview with | Mr. Sylvester Bogus Johnson, of' Nashville, Tennessee, a member of al regiment of negro stevedores. “Mr. Johnson wag standing (on the dock looking over an expanse \of salt water such as he had never seen at Nashville. He started the conversa- tion without any preamble from me. ‘ ‘Man, Man! he said, ‘Christopo Columbus suah m\xst of 'had some gutsh ‘“ ‘You don't lfl(e the ocean, then ’ *“ ‘Not me, boss, I'se pale from mah trip yet. I'se been an American all mah life. But unless these yere At- lantic ocean freezes ovah and some- body builds a railroad ‘back to Ten- nessee, I'se a European fo’ life.” “Parlez-vous francais?’ I quired. z “No sah, stevedore,” he replied. “What's your particular objection to the ocean? “ “The scenery is rotten,’ Sylvester | explained. ‘And I couldn’t keep noth- | in’ on my stomach except a Hte-pre-l server.’ “Get plenty to eat here? “ ‘Yes, sah. ‘Uncle Sam feed us all| right. But chicken is mighty sca’ce. | I ain’t had no chicken since I landed. I ain’t even seen no chicken walkin’ around nobody’s back ya'd.” “Have you made many friends over here? in- | RENIER, PICKHARDT & DUNN 127 MAIN STREET, . Suggestions for Useful Gifts " Fine Blouses Lounging Robes Sweaters Gift Lingerie Negligees Gifts of Leather ’PHONE. 1409-2. Hosiery Handkerchiefs Jewelry Neckwear “Kayser” Silk Un- derwear Coats Skirts Dresses Suits Boudoir Caps 33 | no good. FOR YEARS TO COME CHRISTMAS RECORDS Ask about our record g:ft certificate which simplifies the question of selecting records for someone else. MUSIC ROLLS Two years ago we purchased an enor- mous stock of REAL LEATHER rolls and bags in anticipation of the advance in price. Con- sequently we have some REAL BARGAINS in this line. AND BAGS “Boss, these French ni I saw one tod: in his eahs. I asks him fo’ a cig i ette and he jes’ walks away. I done heah him say somethin’ but it didn’t have no meanin’. red monkey hats and they is just plum ignorant.’ { “Maybe he was a Senegalese? I don’t ca’e what 'he was. He’s just a plum no ’count niggah. seen ‘em pvah heah with whiskahs. But they couldn’t speak the English language so you could unde’stand it a-tall. Plum ignorant. That's what I says.’ hs th rings would you enlist? “‘Boss, when. I made my mark on dat enlistment papah, no one tol’ me about all that watah in this_Atlantic ocean. If they had, I'd still be in Nashville, Tennesse, U. S. A.’ ‘“‘Sylvester Bogus Johnson was some- what mére pessimistic than most of his dusky colleagues. It isn’t at all hard to imagine that one is visiting ain’t gar- They weah_ little ! I'se even ! i the khaki was adopted. @ lower Mississippi river landing in the southern part of the United State: as one sees these negroes in lons . single file carry box after box of pro- visions for Uncle Sam’s men from the big steamers. They sing the same | plantation melodies shoot the same | ‘bones’ and shuffle the same darky dances. “Their attire is almost as pictur- esque as that of the Senegalese, to whom Mr. Johnson " objected so strongly. They wear the uniforms formerly issued to the army before ‘Those who were fortunate enough to draw the | old style light blue artillery overcoat Gith von' hadl thidolit over azaing| b s oa SMOKE OXMOOR A MILD, PLEASANT 8c CIGLS® Those words “Expert tire user of the tire expert—and t!;at naturally is JACK. ENTRUST YOUR TIRE TROUBLES TO US THE AUTO TIRE CO. JACK THE TIRE EXPERT 137 Allyn St. Vulcanizing” remind the Hartford l | | EDISON DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPH A Beautiful Instrument With a Beautiful Tone. All Styles Ready for Immediate Delivery. "THE C. L. PIERCE & CO. 246 MAIN STREET, NEW BRITAIN, CONN! Opposite the Monumenl with long cape and scarlet linin particularly well satistied. The negroes are comfortably housed in barracks near the docks. Their rations are the same as those issued to the fighting men and while their discipline is not so striet, the hours of duty and rou- tine are much the same. “Theé American Y, M. C. A. plans to look after their social welfare in just the same manner that it cares for the white soldiers. A hut for the use of the vedores is being constructed. It is to have electric lights, a moving picture machine, a plano and facili- ties for writing. A negro secretary, a college man, will cooperate with the white secretaries in providing amuse- ment and recreation for the men. He has announced that ‘he will write let- ‘A USEFUL GIFT - REFLECTS GOOD TASTE AND COMMON SENSE We Suggest Footwear and Hosiery As Ideal Christmas Gifts QOur Grade is the kind You are not ashamed to give ters for all who are unnbla*“ themselves. “The negroes already are pl a show for the benefit of a GM French wounded. It will be as soon as the hut 1s comple ican officers and men at thi speaking for tickets, for it h that there is much real dsrky '“' in the nandou r.flmml.